Akron resident has memorable experience for Rockies 25th anniversary

Annette Bowin delivers the lineup card to the umpires, along with Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies and Mark McGwire of the San Diego Padres.

A toss of the coin leading to who had to make the phone call back in 1991 ultimately led to a once in a lifetime experience for Akron resident, Annette Bowin.
Last Monday, Bowin had the opportunity to deliver the lineup card to home plate at the Colorado Rockies game as part of the team's 25th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the Rockies are honoring several of the long-time season ticket holders in various ways - one fan threw out the first pitch at a game, another led "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch, among other tasks. For Bowin, the fact her name appears on her family's season tickets led to her experience.
In 1991, Denver's baseball ownership group launched a season ticket drive, requesting a refundable deposit of $50, trying to get the major league to expand to the Denver market.
"I tease Daryl, my husband, now, because it was back and forth about who had to make the phone call to reserve our tickets. He wanted me to call; I wanted him to call. I ended up calling, so the tickets are in my name," she said.
The Bowin family began going to games when their sons, Dallas and Andy, were in grade school and junior high. With two young active boys, the family would typically only make it to games on Sundays. For all 26 seasons, the usher at the top of their section has been a lady named Beverly.

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"Beverly was our usher even when the team played at Mile High, and she continues to be now at Coors Field. When the boys were younger, she'd even have cookies for them when we'd go to the games on Sundays. Beverly is a character, we really love her," Annette laughed.
Through the years, Daryl and Annette have been able to go to more games as their children grew up, making it to about 20-25 games each year now. The Rockies have a very generous exchange program, so on weeknights, usually just Daryl and Annette head to games. They are then able to take the seats not used during the week to take more family on the weekends.
Their love for baseball has spilled over to their grandchildren, who have essentially grown up at the ball park. Three of them - Alex, Zach and Breckin - even had the opportunity to go down on the field before Monday's game against the Padres, along with Daryl, Annette and Andy. Unfortunately, the three older grandkids were at baseball, track and college.
The family spent about 45 minutes on the field prior to the game, while Dallas and daughters-in-law Christine and Jennie watched closely from the stadium seats. Rockies catcher Tony Wolters came through and shook the family's hands a visited for a short time, as did several other staff. Before heading out to home plate, Manager Bud Black handed Annette the lineup and the two talked about their close birthdays and other things in baseball. One of the most surprising events occurred at home plate, though.
"Usually a manager delivers the lineup card to the umpires at home plate. When I got out there, I realized the Padres' bench coach, Mark McGwire, was the one standing there to deliver theirs. It was great to meet him, and the umpires were very nice," Annette said.
After delivering the lineup card, the entire family headed back to their regular seats to watch the Rockies take on the Padres.
"It was a lot of fun and such a great opportunity. I'm just so glad my family was able to be with me. It was a real honor," she said. "I can't imagine we'd ever stop getting season tickets. We're huge baseball fans, and always have been."